The garden's tranquility was like an invisible wall, completely isolating the music and clamor of the banquet. What was abandoned at this moment was not only the bustling crowd, but also the tiring hypocrisy, schemes, and probing.
The two walked on opposite sides of the gray-white path, a distance of three or four feet between them, which meant they occasionally had to bend down, turn sideways, or reach out to push away protruding branches.
The path ahead was winding, and they didn't know where it would eventually lead them.
Jon looked at the girl beside him, knowing he had to break the silence.
"Ahem." Jon cleared his throat, drawing her attention. "Miss Margaery, I have a question for you."
"Lord Stark, please speak."
"Would you be willing to marry a man like me?"
Margaery was slightly stunned, not expecting Jon to be so direct. Her eyes quickly glanced at Jon, then at the path beneath her feet, and then at the sky and the plants around them.
"Is Lord Stark proposing?" Margaery's tone carried a hint of playfulness.
"Yes, and no." Jon slowed his pace and turned to Margaery. "His Majesty Stannis hopes that we can unite, so that Highgarden will provide more resources to help me take the Westerlands. In this way, His Majesty can eliminate a traitor, weaken the power of House Tyrell, reward his loyal subjects, and punish your House Tyrell's previous opportunism. It's killing many birds with one stone."
"So this union is entirely His Majesty's idea?" Margaery's voice grew cold.
"It would be too hypocritical if I said that. If I could marry you, I would also gain many benefits, and you are very beautiful, so I have no reason to refuse."
"The Duke is truly sincere." Margaery smiled, her voice like tea cooled by the evening breeze.
"Then what are you waiting for?"
"What?"
Margaery let out an almost imperceptible scoff. "Rape me, right here. That way my father would have no choice, wouldn't he?" Her famously brown eyes gleamed in the twilight, like two cold flames. "Just like you used your arm to escort Lya into the banquet."
Jon looked at the serious Margaery and realized he had underestimated her, but he also felt excited. Only such a person was worthy of cooperating with him.
"Then you still dared to come out with me?" Jon retorted in his heart. He then explained aloud, "I don't want to do that because I'm a bit greedy. I want both you and to conquer your heart, which is why I asked if you would be willing to marry me."
Jon's answer also somewhat surprised Margaery.
"What if I say no?" Margaery pressed on.
"Then I will conquer the Westerlands with my own abilities, though it might require a few more battles and more lives lost."
"Meaning with the help of House Tyrell, you would take the Westerlands and Casterly Rock faster?"
"Exactly." Jon readily admitted. With Highgarden's help, at least he wouldn't have to worry about army logistics, and with the Tyrell army distracting the south, he could find an opportunity for a decisive battle sooner.
"But Casterly Rock never falls." Margaery raised a very practical and objective point.
"The strongest fortresses are often breached from within." Jon's answer was crisp and decisive, as if he had immense confidence.
Margaery remained silent. They continued walking, but had already stepped onto a cobblestone path, and the distance between them had subtly shortened.
After a while, Margaery asked, "Lord Stark, what do you believe is most important in a marriage?"
Jon pondered for a moment, then replied, "Bards and musicians love to sing about love, but from what I've observed, for commoners, bread and gold, fields and homes are what truly matter in marriage. But for people like you and me, I think mutual achievement is the most important."
"Mutual achievement." Margaery repeated softly, as if savoring the immense weight of those words. The scrutiny in her eyes melted away like ice and snow, transforming into a clear and sharp recognition. "I believe you are very right, Lord Stark."
An evening breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the curls on Margaery's forehead. They both fell silent for a moment, hearing only each other's breathing and the faint music from afar.
That invisible distance of three or four feet that had stretched between them quietly vanished in this silence. They still stood on opposite sides of the path, but a certain solid barrier had broken.
The distance between them seemed to have closed even further. They arrived together in the depths of the garden, where not a sound could be heard except for the chirping of crickets in the flower bushes.
Seeing that Margaery agreed with his values, Jon subconsciously began to paint a future for her: "If you are willing to marry me, then—"
"Lord Stark." Margaery uncharacteristically interrupted Jon. "You don't need to promise anything. Others' promises don't count; what you earn yourself is truly yours. This is a lesson my grandmother taught me."
"Lady Olenna is truly a wise person." Jon nodded.
"Actually, my coming out with you was also likely my grandmother's wish. Renly and Joffrey are dead, and Tommen's lineage has become tainted. She allowed me to choose my own future."
As they chatted and walked, they unknowingly passed through a low archway, and the scene before them suddenly opened up—they had ascended a section of the Red Keep's city wall.
The entire city of King's Landing spread out beneath their feet, with myriad lights like scattered stars, and the darkness of the slums intertwined with the splendor of the Red Keep, forming a vast and real tableau.
They stood side by side, looking down at the city where they were about to stir up a storm. At this moment, there was no more probing; a solid and new Alliance, based on understanding and mutual interests, was quietly forged in silence.
Just then, out of the corner of Jon's eye, he caught a subtle movement in the shadows at the corner of the city wall.
But soon he sensed someone approaching them.
"Your Family is looking for you."
"Hmm?" Margaery looked around confusedly, seeing no one.
But soon she heard a familiar call: "Young Miss Margaery!"
"Young Miss Margaery, where are you!"
"Young Miss Margaery—"
Jon and Margaery's first date ultimately did not end normally.
Just as Margaery was still hoping to learn more about the Wall, Garlan suddenly arrived with people, looking for Margaery. Using the excuse that Olenna was unwell, he took her back.
No sooner had Margaery left with Garlan than Ser Davos approached Jon, asking him about the 'battle situation'.
Jon naturally couldn't truthfully relay the contents of their conversation. He simply gave a sheepish smile and said to Ser Davos, "Ser, you know me. This is actually my first time speaking alone with a girl. I've never interacted with women before."
Davos patted Jon's shoulder, understanding. "Jon, this matter is indeed not easy, but even if you don't end up marrying Margaery, His Majesty will still try to secure a larger dowry for you."
"Understood. Please thank His Majesty for me."
Seeing Jon agree, Davos still said with unease, "Jon, when I was young, I had no contact with nobles; I came out of Flea Bottom. Thanks to the guidance of the gods, I am able to serve His Majesty. Although you grew up in Winterfell, the disparity of being a bastard must have caused you great pain. We owe everything we have today to His Majesty's grace. His Majesty's trust is the greatest honor for us."
"I understand what you mean, Ser Davos."
Jon knew Davos was worried that Jon, having gained the Stark surname and become a Duke, might have his ambitions and desires greatly heightened, potentially leading to other intentions in the future.
However, Jon didn't entirely agree with Davos's statement.
Although the long march to attack King's Landing was also to use Stannis's 'claim' to achieve his own goals, and Stannis was the biggest beneficiary after his attack on King's Landing, fundamentally, he didn't owe him anything.
Now he could simultaneously occupy the Crownlands and the Stormlands, whereas in another timeline, he would have had to flee north in a hurry with his men.
During this time, Jon had been playing the part of a younger Eddard. Now he had obtained everything he wanted—the claim to the Westerlands, and the Tyrell marriage Alliance.
It was time to leave this castle and conquer broader lands.
When Margaery returned to Olenna and Mace, Mace inspected his daughter from head to toe many times until he was sure not a single hair on her was harmed, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
"Father, I'm not hurt. That Jon didn't do anything inappropriate to me." Margaery reassured Mace, and also put her grandmother and brother at ease.
"Hmm, that boy is still well-behaved." Olenna breathed a sigh of relief, but she could sense something else in her granddaughter's tone.
"Margaery, tell me what you two talked about?"
Margaery looked at her grandmother's wise eyes, knowing she couldn't hide anything from her, and carefully began, "This Jon is definitely not what he appears to be on the surface. He is an ambitious man; he clearly told me his aspirations."
Margaery's answer piqued the interest of 'the queen of thorns', who then pressed for more details.
Upon learning that Jon had so brazenly expressed his ambitions during their conversation, Olenna's evaluation of him rose considerably.
"So he's determined to attack the Westerlands?" Olenna said.
But Mace, who was nearby, offered a differing opinion: "Just a boastful boy. To attack the Westerlands, he has to attack Casterly Rock, and to attack Casterly Rock, he has to attack Casterly Rock first. Tywin must have made the Casterly Rock defenses incredibly strong; it'd be a miracle if he could take it!"
Mace absolutely refused to believe Jon could conquer the Westerlands, let alone Casterly Rock.
The saying 'Casterly Rock never falls' wasn't just words.
However, Mace was still not satisfied after saying all this, and continued, "Margaery, don't let that boy trick you. I promise I'll find you a better husband in the future!"
Mace still resented Jon's insults on the city wall that day.
"Better? Then find me a better one? That boy can at least be a Duke!"
Olenna reminded him.
"But Harrenhal is an ominous place!"
"Then we'll pay to build him another one!" Olenna waved her hand, as if rebuilding a castle was as easy as planting a pot of flowers.
"But this boy insulted me! He insulted me and still wants to marry my daughter, how can there be such a good thing?!"
Mace finally voiced the part he found most unacceptable.
Olenna wanted to say something, but putting herself in Mace's shoes, this matter indeed couldn't be overlooked for him.
He was not only her son, he was also Margaery's father, the Duke of Highgarden, and the Warden of the South!
So Olenna softened her tone and said, "Mace, the boy was just trying to survive. If you never see him, you'll never get a chance to 'collect your debt'."
Olenna understood her son; sometimes she had to soothe him. Indeed, after receiving his mother's comfort, Mace's anger subsided considerably.
"Moreover, if this Jon takes the Westerlands, with so many gold and silver mines there, would House Tyrell really lose out?" A shrewd glint sparkled in Olenna's eyes.
"Well—alright, but if he wants to marry Margaery, he must take Casterly Rock. If he can even take Casterly Rock, then I have no objections." Mace stated his final condition with a hint of smugness.
"That's a bit much, how about this?" Olenna thought for a moment and said, "If Jon can take Casterly Rock, then his wedding with Margaery will be held in Casterly Rock. If he can't take Casterly Rock, then it will have to be held in Highgarden!"
In Olenna's view, Jon's worst outcome would still be taking half of the Westerlands, which would be the best outcome for House Tyrell.
Although Stannis wanted to use Highgarden's strength to attack the Westerlands, could he really control how much effort Highgarden put in?
If Jon took half of the Westerlands, he would always need Highgarden's support to contend with the Lannisters. House Tyrell could completely use food and wealth to bring Jon under their control, while simultaneously using him as an excellent tool to exploit the Westerlands' gold mines.
Mace thought, this also works. However, he didn't think as far ahead as Olenna.
He just thought that when Jon and Margaery got married, Jon would have to come to Highgarden. Once in Highgarden, he would make that brat see what House Tyrell was, and what the dignity of the first noble family of the South truly meant!
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)